Wicca vs. Witchcraft

In an essence, Wicca and Witchcraft cannot really be differentiated between in a discussion as Wiccans use witchcraft as a ritualistic tool. Many people tend to think about spells, witches, etc. when hearing about Witchcraft mostly due to history and misconceptions about it. Furthermore, witchcraft can only really be defined separately to Wicca when it is practiced without its purpose within the Wiccan culture.

Witchcraft is an important part of Wicca philosophy, in much the same way as blessings and exorcisms have been used in the Christian faith for centuries. Popular culture has shown many of us Father Karras reciting from the bible, and casting holly water on the possessed body of a child in William Friedkin's famous film The Exorcist, yet we still praise this activity. Is it actually so different from witchcraft?

Witchcraft is not as some would believe, all about evil spells and curses being conjured out of bat wings, spiders and frog's legs boiling in a huge black cauldron. Witchcraft is more about harmony and balance; although strangely enough cauldrons and broomsticks do feature.

Wiccans use magic (or Magick as often spelt by the Wiccan community) primarily to promote things such as: love, fertility, healing or to eliminate negative influences; and it is commonly believed among Wiccans that magick is a law of nature, as natural as the sun that rises and the wind that blows. However, Wiccans do not claim to be able to produce balls of fire from their mouths or bolts of lightning from their fingertips. It is important to approach Wicca philosophy realistically and practice it with understanding and respect.